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concotion to clean hw floor

15 years ago

We have hi-gloss hw oak in our kitchen and family room. Its fairly new. We use a wet jet to clean it and I usually go over it with a dry swiffer to dry it...it seams the wet jet stuff takes some time to dry 100% and if I do not go over it with the swiffer then sneakers squeak and such...plus it looks smudgy. Its worked fairly well but the floor just looks really bad after a few big parties we recently had. You can see what looks to be areas of film (maybe buidup...not sure) when the light hits the floor a ceratin way....maybe that was always there...we just removed blinds for cleaning and now we have a bunch of extra light in the kitchen! I figure its time for a good clean up but I am at a loss has to how to proceed.

My wife says to use a combo of Vinegar and water and a sponge mop but I am not too convinced.

So, what should one use and how should one use it.

Thanks!!!!!

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Comments (8)

spath2009
15 years ago
The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop is a great product. My swiffer did the same thing. It left streaks and too much cleaner on the floor. Had to get down on my knees and clean it up anyway. what good is that? Vinegar and water is good but its so much work. The Bona is so easy and the cleaner really is wonderful. Try the Bona Hardwood Floor mop. There's actually a site you can buy it from with a coupon. I found it and got 10% off or whatever it was.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bona
andrelaplume2
Original Author
15 years ago
there is a lot of stuff there...is there a reccomended product and a preffered way to apply it. Perhaps a cleaner can be put into my wetjet as opposed to paying $40 for their version of it...?
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We don't usually wear shoes in our house, so any little crumb left on the floor becomes very noticeable on our bare feet (and, obviously, I don't want to see the crumbs either). I do have a daily cleaning suggestion that works well for us: I use a very handy cordless, light vacuum cleaner (with full handle, not like dustbuster; ours is a Eureka cordless Quick-Up), which we keep plugged in and hanging on wall in nearby laundry room. I could not live without this thing -- it is so light and fast and effective. In fact, even the kids like to use it. In our new house, I am putting an outlet in the mudroom broom closet just for this type of light vacuum cleaner. For real cleaning, we vacuum first and then use a hardwood floor "mop" (looks like swiffer but has terry cloth covers like bluekitobsessed's). We probably got that at Home Depot. And for cleaner, we use -- and, for 9 years, have been happy with -- ZEP hardwood floor cleaner (also from HD). Leaves floor beautiful and smells good, too. I might check out Bona next time, since so many of you recommend it.
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al_horses
15 years ago
FYI:
Guy & Gals, when you put any cleaner in your water or use a swiffer it leaves a film on the hardwood.

Try using less cleaning solution, plain ole tap-water and a mop that is rung-out and left hanging for a few minutes so the remaining water drips out is sufficient.

Vinegar has an acid base and over time will pitt the finish. If you have a greasy area clean with a mild solution then rinse with plain water. Dry with towel.
boxers
15 years ago
I would never use a swiffer, wetjet or anything but a microfiber mop. I'm not a big proponent of using water and for sure never using a 'string' type mop. Bona is the best recommendation but you should only need it for very bad spots. A misting of water and using the microfiber mop should clean almost anything.
andrelaplume2
Original Author
15 years ago
whats a microfiber mop...is it like a swiffer or like a real string mop?
boxers
15 years ago
swiffer have a chemical pad, a string mop should never be used on wood. Microfiber are a specific type of soft towling that you can use without any chemicals. Go to a dollar store or ask around. Lots of different places sell them.
hendricus
15 years ago
The bona by spath2009 is an advertisement.

I got the microfiber at Wallmart in the automotive department.
turnage (8a TX)
15 years ago
Wikipedia has a pretty good article on Microfiber if anybody's interested. There's a paragraph titled "Cleaning" about the middle of the page.

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